[EmpireWF]

The Red Sox signed SS Julio Lugo to a four year contract worth $36 million.

I don't like the money or time they ended up giving Lugo. By the end of the deal, he'll be 35 years old. Is he worth $9 million a year. I don't think so.

[MVB]

The Red Sox are whole-heartedly determined to start the 2007 season with a higher payroll then the New York Yankees.

Seriously, what's going on? A year ago they didn't have enough cash to re-sign Damon, but now they're handing the likes of Julio Lugo $9 million a year???? Where is all this cash coming from? And why waste it on mediocre players like Lugo (especially) and Drew?

[ThePundit]

This is their 4th shortstop in 4 years. By next year, they'll have another.

[EvanAparra]

Originally Posted by MVB

The Red Sox are whole-heartedly determined to start the 2007 season with a higher payroll then the New York Yankees.

Seriously, what's going on? A year ago they didn't have enough cash to re-sign Damon, but now they're handing the likes of Julio Lugo $9 million a year???? Where is all this cash coming from? And why waste it on mediocre players like Lugo (especially) and Drew?

They STILL wont have a higher playroll than the Yankees. Especially after the Yanks sign Pettitte/Clemens.

They had the cash to sign Damon, but they set a value and stuck to it. Just because the money is there doesn't mean you have to spend it. Lugo was by far the best SS on the market, and therefore got more than he was really worth --- which has been the growing sentiment around the league anyway. (See: Carlos Lee)

I'd say Lugo is mediocre, but Drew is most definately not.

[MVB]

Originally Posted by EvanAparra

They had the cash to sign Damon, but they set a value and stuck to it

.

Yeah, you're right, but that's not what the Sox said at the time. I remember Francona and Epstein whining about their inability to compete with the Yankees on the same financial level and that they would come up "short every time there's a player who's available...."